[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6484960,"mediaKeyId","5545999-a3ccbb2d2b49f9dcac08013d3c227b18","parentId",5545999,"title","Argyle MDD approves July minutes and votes not to renew Texas 21 membership","audioSeconds",1136,"startMs",1816000,"endMs",2952000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5545999-a3ccbb2d2b49f9dcac08013d3c227b18&start=1816&end=2952","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5545999-a3ccbb2d2b49f9dcac08013d3c227b18/thumbnail_1816000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6484960/Argyle/Denton-County/Texas/Argyle-MDD-approves-July-minutes-and-votes-not-to-renew-Texas-21-membership","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484960-de45331a96521c02ce855d0067d3e378/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147441&Signature=GPHK6WSXhtvDwx-7iC-tWzOpO75kY~YSfeInjB2MUZ69NuDsBR2PS7hOWUOFMvP7qWdotFZBcg-NtFM7zRj3Kz7rzkNpbeUnOwMyerXoV06XAUWKYkTofgYueVuaLedrPcJEfmt-yrrwqLWd8u4MRYfEhKKnecwGS8PkJqFaCmu1s2hLfTtpx1CLvhF3m~YClZ~~7i8fqk92Vv35ByczLgqySEYeV4sNxHRM-yPfs1lhQNxNFRQ6oyGdPpopWYo17BGO1leGUFUdW6QfAaUn2U8Wu2gZf2MQZ0mCLW-CUzNSOMU-aaVknrXSPuQgytO6S9-iR4tdmlh6~A7wFedguw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Argyle","date","2025-08-05T00:00:00Z","article","At the start of the meeting the board approved the minutes of the July 1 MDD meeting by voice vote. There was no recorded roll-call tally in the public record; the chair stated the minutes were approved after the board members answered \"aye.\"

Later the board considered whether to renew its membership in Texas 21, a regional coalition. One member raised concerns about the district funding lobbying and about the town's influence within the larger coalition. \"I don't see a big benefit for Argyle to be a member of this,\" a member said during discussion. Another member noted the $2,500 membership fee and questioned whether routine travel to conferences would yield proportional benefit.

A motion was made \"to not renew our Texas 21 membership,\" and a second was received. The board voted in favor; the chair announced the motion carried and instructed staff to stop the membership payment and remove the line from the MDD budget. The board recorded no opposed votes during the meeting.

The agenda concluded with an executive session to discuss economic-development negotiations under Texas Government Code Chapter 551. The board reconvened at 8:43 p.m. and announced no reportable action had been taken in closed session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Argyle - Municipal Development District","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved prior meeting minutes and voted unanimously to not renew its Texas 21 membership, citing limited perceived benefit and taxpayer-funded lobbying concerns; an executive session followed with no reportable action.","taxTitle","Argyle, Denton County, Texas","taxId",52239,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6484965,"MDD members question value of Retail Strategies contract; staff urges continued use while auditing benefits",308,1852000,2160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5545999-a3ccbb2d2b49f9dcac08013d3c227b18&start=1852&end=2160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5545999-a3ccbb2d2b49f9dcac08013d3c227b18/thumbnail_1852000.jpg","/articles/6484965/Argyle/Denton-County/Texas/MDD-members-question-value-of-Retail-Strategies-contract-staff-urges-continued-use-while-auditing-benefits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484965-6729c2fa26c3324be6e99e23e7163a0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147441&Signature=U1zw8zBI3ZJfJA1pe~cBGnhbcQWfjXA0tKuTM1j3XFRCIariJC-GcJkZk5UWMCxLMoGw-OHBizVPeyCX3KA7DG88zQZLDMMM3EGB7PuA~3IozMXdQjdX~Z7UY5v~7tvAUIRn37bqqgSiLNc8jfsZnkr4R2~73QmlKO2x5klkXqm6ifgTV7rtf6JWr0N8PtTHnzDT1ARE94m1L997utOoIjxYZYjwHTVpIfhsU7SUFhocuGUWIYMwcti3SJwGZ-qZqtMl~7REG-p-Az0HhmJxANTayRM~8oCelMsk8ipPkvsGzXKWUR0QqEGUqUeKK-PXh35gl746hk41mEOLDkqT5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Argyle Municipal Development District reviewed its contract with Retail Strategies and compared alternative market-recruitment proposals from The Retail Coach and Buxton. Harrison presented the contracts and explained that because the district has paid for the second year of the three-year Retail Strategies contract, cancelling now would forfeit the remaining prepaid months: \"their contract is pretty clear that if we were to end the contract with them...the money that we've already paid them, they would keep as earned,\" Harrison said.

Staff recommended continuing the Retail Strategies relationship through the paid second year and extracting more value from the engaged services, then re-evaluating before committing to a third year. \"I think it is a better option in staff's mind to continue with the contract with Retail Strategies as it is now, try to get the best value out of it as we can over the next 9 months,\" Harrison said.

Several board members expressed frustration with the vendor's prior work. One board member said, \"I think this is a complete waste of money, and it has been for years,\" and another called the materials \"fluff and not a whole lot of substance.\" Several members suggested convening a workshop with developers and local stakeholders to clarify whether retailers want new construction or existing spaces and to identify what marketing or infrastructure assistance would be most effective.

Members discussed alternatives: The Retail Coach (whose president, Aaron Farmer, has worked with Argyle intermittently since 2010) and Buxton submitted proposals, but staff said the proposals looked similar to Retail Strategies and might not deliver materially different results. A board member suggested using other analytics tools (for example, cell‑phone–based foot‑traffic analytics such as Placer.ai) to quantify event draws and visitor origin as part of recruitment and marketing strategy.

The board did not vote to cancel or replace Retail Strategies. Instead, members asked staff to press the vendor for more measurable in‑person engagement and to present an evaluation of the vendor's deliverables and upcoming research/analysis before deciding whether to fund a third year of service.","Board members criticized the existing Retail Strategies contract as low-value and asked staff to press the vendor for more in-person engagement; staff and several members said it is premature to cancel an already-paid second-year contract and recommended assessing results before the third-year payment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6484970,"Argyle shop owner warns redevelopment could displace community-facing storefront",380,76000,456000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5545999-a3ccbb2d2b49f9dcac08013d3c227b18&start=76&end=456","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5545999-a3ccbb2d2b49f9dcac08013d3c227b18/thumbnail_76000.jpg","/articles/6484970/Argyle/Denton-County/Texas/Argyle-shop-owner-warns-redevelopment-could-displace-community-facing-storefront","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484970-817c199a8178902d82addd78e548f330/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147441&Signature=ejBeqv3C2ckrVHCHfrgmUer2A2OWxtaACHm8dWSLbzoHHogcCMaWINji8m~k3sn3eIOV7sr6vWTzgBnP-cvCiu4FlH9Ne4PDSPVEjtx7k-85-q3SQC29~~YSm4RDFU5kjwUJG02NgCNC8vvnKqStDVuCSmBx5UBSU-5kK0AH-4~-fFet0cRPQmmAZipp5tvLov5MEeAyjwEw~m2lT2WXaLLRylJIB8N86Qry74tK-K-t-wkJQnQzi0I~XpeKGNwv0bUqfBqxtBe7N9j7Rue359WV8idyPySzrhuThA4qqbc-tGTnlFquA43QJEp5Anqj9~oorwhApXgpKppY-Ig7fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Emily Holt, who identified herself as a 15-year Argyle resident and a local business owner, told the board her retail storefront, which houses a bakery, flowers, gifts and a May 2024 farmers market, is on property under contract and may be redeveloped.

\"We are currently located in the old Argyle Auto Care building which was built in 1959... That property is under contract with an option period through November and the plans are to redevelop, that area which would tear down my current location,\" Holt said during the meeting's public-comment period.

Holt described community services her business provides: hosting Bible studies, PTA and Young Men's Service League meetings, 4-H gatherings, disaster-relief collections, running the Keep Argyle Beautiful recycling-bag collection point, and organizing an \"Adopt a Teacher\" program that delivers treats monthly to local schools. She said customers travel from Bowie, Arlington, Bridgeport, Dallas and as far as Houston for her products.

Holt told the board she is actively searching for an affordable new location and expects she may have to reduce offerings and community events if she relocates. She said she plans to return to the board in September if she finds a suitable space to request assistance reestablishing in town. \"So I do plan to come back in September if I find a suitable space and request assistance in reestablishing in a new location,\" she said.

The board did not take action during public comment; Holt's statement was an introduction and a notice of potential need for future assistance.","A local small-business owner, Emily Holt, introduced herself to the MDD board and said her storefront is under contract for redevelopment; she said she will seek help to reestablish locally if needed.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6484975,"Argyle MDD reports sales-tax uptick; staff flags online sales and ETJ effects",319,312000,631000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5545999-a3ccbb2d2b49f9dcac08013d3c227b18&start=312&end=631","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5545999-a3ccbb2d2b49f9dcac08013d3c227b18/thumbnail_312000.jpg","/articles/6484975/Argyle/Denton-County/Texas/Argyle-MDD-reports-sales-tax-uptick-staff-flags-online-sales-and-ETJ-effects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484975-7139404b1d66e49519d7fb45ac3055ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147441&Signature=HpNmFgTTyE8HjnbfPWzEQ1UBRq1ck4DXm5vvoH0pMyrdkoJ1npjyv40xgAaGZPclx-mTHyvXGk4V4rC2hB9LqpGfFycQxXqSvPV1Jkm6C3FMn~PBRqEqDL2veErpwab1Ho3~DlIlRgOQ7bTKs~upTB3LpvqVpHnUn9P36lYQfjt38OvqAdUscbgvMLu~Aqi8Bd3otfERdqQ76NATA7TYyt9A6Qfx~zK8txIqtvZmFdQgs7KyEx7mkKSoE7X5~0H2tFpfWiOUDW0iXmQiASiZ3nmJpN0iFKlH1WH45W0ekW5oNffRWzT-4lmIPYwWv4ROuDV2j9Lm40ScpNLF7ED9dQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Harrison, a staff member for the Argyle Municipal Development District, told the board that sales-tax collections for July totaled $42,578, an 8.4% increase from the same month last year.

The uptick contributes to a positive fiscal-year trend: staff reported year-to-date MDD collections above the budgeted $450,000 with two months remaining in the fiscal year. \"We're already above that with 2 months left,\" Harrison said during the meeting.

Board members and staff singled out online sales and activity in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) as drivers of recent fluctuations. Harrison said ZagTech, the proprietary vendor the district uses for sales-tax reporting, attributes a large February spike to a correction by a national retailer that shifted \"ship-to-home\" sales into the MDD data. \"That came from...their online purchasing ship to home brought us that online business,\" Harrison said, adding this can distort month-to-month comparisons.

The staff presentation included a monthly bar chart showing incremental gains over the past four years and a heat map concentrated around the 377/407 commercial corridor. Harrison cautioned the heat map needs refinement: some residential areas appear as hot spots, which likely reflects delivery addresses rather than local business activity. \"I don't think it's entirely accurate. You know, your previous bar chart...take this map with a grain of salt,\" he said.

Staff walked the board through a breakdown that separates in-town and online collections and layered several ETJ regions (Harvest Town Center, the FM 407 ETJ and the US 377 ETJ). The presentation showed that most MDD sales tax still originates from in-town locations or online sales, with ETJ areas contributing between about 8% and up to 19% in some months depending on the area and month.

Board members asked technical questions about how delivery location affects where online sales are credited. Harrison said the district is conducting a sales-tax audit to clarify delivery-versus-origin issues and improve ZagTech reporting. \"This is one of the reasons that we're doing the sales tax audit right now,\" he said.

Staff recommended further work to separate online transactions from in-town brick-and-mortar counts and to reconcile ZagTech's layers with the town's internal maps. The board asked staff to request clarifications from ZagTech on why some known businesses (for example, a Shell station and a barbecued-food business) did not appear on the vendor's heat map.

Harrison also noted that ZagTech provides confidential merchant-level data under a special arrangement with the state comptroller and that staff will continue to refine the reporting and present additional analysis in coming months.

The board did not take formal action on the report; staff will return with refined analyses and audit results.","Staff presented a July sales-tax report showing an 8.4% increase year-over-year, rising fiscal-year totals and larger-than-expected online sales; staff said an audit and data clean-up of ZagTech reporting are underway to clarify ETJ contributions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Argyle MDD approves July minutes and votes not to renew Texas 21 membership

MDD members question value of Retail Strategies contract; staff urges continued use while auditing benefits

Argyle shop owner warns redevelopment could displace community-facing storefront

Argyle MDD reports sales-tax uptick; staff flags online sales and ETJ effects